Combined window covering and wall-mounted decorative item

ABSTRACT

A window covering is disclosed with improved light and thermal blocking abilities. The window covering may include a panel that is mountable over a window using magnetic coupling. In particular, the panel may include at least one of a magnetic material and a ferromagnetic material, such that the panel is secured in place over the window by a magnetic force. When not in use over the window, the panel may be secured to a wall as a display piece using magnetic coupling.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/798,767, filed May 9, 2006 which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety, this incorporation by reference being made withthe following exception: In the event that any portion of theabove-referenced provisional application is inconsistent with thisapplication, this application supercedes said above-referencedprovisional application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to window coverings.

2. Description of Related Background

Window coverings include structures such as blinds, shades, drapery,curtains, shutters, and valences. Window coverings are typicallyinstalled using a wide variety of hardware. The hardware may includebrackets, rods, and fasteners. One disadvantage to presently availablewindow coverings, is their inherent inability to completely blockoutside light and cold air. Even when closed, most window coveringsleave gaps along the sides thereof that allow the passage of light andcold air. Further, window coverings such as slated blinds, leave gapsbetween the slats that allow the passage of light and cold air. Anotherdisadvantage to the use of presently available window coverings is that,even when open, the window coverings impede the passage of light intothe room and block the view to the outside. Likewise, some of thepreviously available window coverings do not provide adequateinsulation. Another disadvantage to some of the previously availablewindow coverings is that the hardware used to mount the window coveringsis unsightly.

The previously available window coverings are thus characterized byseveral disadvantages that are addressed by the present invention. Thepresent invention minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, theabove-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methodsand structural features described herein.

The features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure withoutundue experimentation. The features and advantages of the disclosure maybe realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent froma consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a room of a structure having a window and a panel mounted on awall of the structure;

FIG. 2 is the room of a structure depicted in FIG. 1 where the panel asbeen removed to cover the window;

FIG. 3 is a front and perspective view of the panel;

FIG. 4 is a rear and perspective view of the panel;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the plane A-A in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the plane B-B in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles inaccordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to theembodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will beused to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that nolimitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Anyalterations and further modifications of the inventive featuresillustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles ofthe disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to oneskilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure,are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed.Further, as used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,”“containing,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereofare inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional,unrecited elements or method steps.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a perspective view of a room10 having a wall 12. A glass window 16 is disposed in the wall 12. Thewindow 16 may be mounted in a boxed-shaped frame 18 to the wall 12 as isknown to one having ordinary skill in the art. The frame 18 may beformed from wood, metal, plastic or any other suitable material. Theframe 18 may comprise an inner surface 20. Located on the inner surface20 of the frame 18 may be a flexible material 22. The flexible material22 may extend completely around the frame 18 of the window 16. Theflexible material 22 may comprise at least one of a magnetic materialand a ferromagnetic material incorporated into the flexible material 22as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The flexible material 22 may be integrated into the frame 18 of thewindow 16 or the flexible material 22 by be attached to the frame 18 ofthe window 16 after the frame 18 is installed into the wall 12. In oneembodiment, the flexible material 22 may comprise a magneticweatherstripping that is installed after the window 16 and frame 18 havebeen installed into the wall 12. The flexible material 22 may beinstalled with an adhesive to the inner surface 20 of the frame 18. Inother embodiments, the flexible material 22 may be installed withfasteners.

Disposed on the wall 12 next to the window 16 is a panel 14. The panel14 comprises a decorative image 24 and a frame 26. The frame 26 may be apicture frame. The length and width of the panel 14 is approximately thesame length and height of the space defined by the inner surface 20 ofthe frame 18 of the window 16. The panel 14 is hung or otherwiseattached to the wall 12 in a manner that will be explained hereinafter.To a casual observer, the panel 14 resembles a “normal” picture or otherdecorative item hanging on the wall 12. The aesthetically pleasingnature of the panel 14 allows the panel 14 to be stored in plain sightand near the window 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown the same room 10 as in FIG. 1,except that the panel 14 has been removed from its location on the wall12 and placed over the window 16. In particular, the panel 14 has beeninstalled inside of the box-shaped frame 18 of the window 16. The frame26 of the panel 14 and the inner surface 20 of the frame 18 of thewindow 16 abut nearly against each other for a semi-tight fit.

With the panel 14 removed from its position on the wall 12, a hangingdevice 28 is observable in FIG. 2 at the same location where the panel14 was mounted to the wall 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The purpose of thehanging device 28 is to facilitate the mounting and removal of the panel14 to the wall 12. For reasons that will become more evidenthereinafter, the hanging device 28 may comprise at least one of amagnetic material and a ferromagnetic material. The hanging device 28may be attached to an outer surface of the wall 12 with fasteners 30. Asused herein, the term “fastener” is used generally to cover a widevariety of mechanical coupling devices, such as screws, nails, bolts,and the like. The hanging device 28 may comprises a substantiallyrectangular shape. For example, the hanging device 28 may be formed fromstrips of least one of a magnetic material and a ferromagnetic material.The strips are mounted such that they match and can mate with the panel14. Bores in the hanging device 28 may be utilized to receive thefasteners 30 to thereby facilitate the mounting of the hanging device 28to the wall 12.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the hanging device28 may be attached to the wall 12 utilizing an adhesive material. Inother embodiments of the present invention, the panel 14 may be attachedto the wall 12 using hardware typically used to hang an item to a wall,including hooks, hangers, sawtooth hangers, railing, wire, cleats,nails, and the like. In still another embodiment of the presentinvention, the hanging device 28 is located internally in the wall 12,either in the outer surface of the wall, e.g. sheet rock, or in theinterior of the wall, such that the hanging device 28 is not visible toan observer when the panel 14 is not in place. This may requirepre-mounting the hanging device 28 during construction of the wall 12 ormodifying the wall 12 to incorporate the hanging device 28 such that itis not visible. The hanging device 28 may be formed from a singlematerial or in individual parts.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is depicted a front perspective view ofthe panel 14. The panel 14 comprises a frame 26 enclosing an image 24.The image 24 may comprise a painting, photograph, or any otherdecorative design. The panel 14 may have a thickness. It will beappreciated that the panel 14 may comprise a wide range of materials,and no specific type of material is required by the present invention.

For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, the panel14 may comprise a window screen instead of the image 24, in the eventthat the window 16 is capable of being opened. The screen may be placedover the window when it is opened and secured in place using magneticcoupling. When the window is closed, the screen may be removed tothereby improve visibility out of the window. In still anotherembodiment of the present invention, the panel 14 may comprise a lightdiffusing material, a semi-transparent material, a tinted material, oreven a netting. The panel 14 may comprise a handle to facilitateremoving the panel 14, especially in the event of an emergency, such asa fire.

It should be noted that two panels may be utilized together. Forexample, one of the panels may comprise a window screen and the other asolid and insulating material. The two panels may be selectively mountedover a window as needed. Further, the two panels may be coupled togethervia a magnetic force such that the two panels may be mounted togetherover the window or to a wall. In this example, the screen panel can behidden behind the solid panel when mounted to a wall.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a rear perspective view of thepanel 14. The panel 14 includes a back surface 32. Disposed adjacent anedge 25 of the back surface 32 is a mounting material 34 comprisingleast one of a magnetic material and a ferromagnetic material. Themounting material 34 may be secured to the panel 14 with fasteners oradhesives. In an alternative embodiment, the mounting material 34 may beintegrally incorporated into the panel 14 such that it is invisible tothe casual observer. The mounting material 34 may be utilized to mountand secure the panel 14 over the window 16 and to the hanging device 28using a magnetic force as will be explained below.

The manner in which the panel 14 is mounted and secured to the hangingdevice 28 will now be explained. In FIG. 5, there is depicted across-sectional view of the panel 14 mounted to the hanging device 28along the plane A-A shown in FIG. 1. The panel 14 is attached to thewall 12 by a magnetic coupling between the hanging device 28 and themounting material 34. For this reason, at least one of the hangingdevice 28 and the mounting material 34 should incorporate some form of amagnetic material.

In one embodiment, both the hanging device 28 and the mounting material34 incorporate a magnetic material, such that they are mutuallyattracted to each other. In another embodiment, one of the hangingdevice 28 and the mounting material 34 incorporates a magnetic materialwhile the other incorporates a ferromagnetic material. In this manner,the hanging device 28 and the mounting material 34 may also be coupledvia a magnetic force.

FIG. 5 also illustrates that the panel 14 comprises the back surface 32and a front surface 38. Interposed between the back surface 32 and thefront surface 38 is an insulating material 40. The insulating material40 may prohibit, impede or resist the passage of thermal energy betweenthe front surface 38 and the back surface 32. It should be noted thatthe thickness of the insulating material 40 may be varied to obtain adesired R-value for the panel 14. In one embodiment, the insulatingmaterial 40 is selected from the group comprising wood, foam, andfiberglass. Foam, however, may be preferable due to its light weight.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the manner in which the panel 14 is mounted andsecured over the window 16 will now be explained. In FIG. 6, there isdepicted a cross-sectional view of the panel 14 mounted over the window16 along the plane B-B shown in FIG. 2. The flexible material 22 extendsoutwardly from the inner surface 20 of the window frame 18. As mentionedpreviously, the flexible material 22 should be disposed entirely aroundthe perimeter of the window 16.

The flexible material 22 may comprise a core 36. The core 36 maycomprise at least one of a magnetic material and a ferromagneticmaterial. The mounting material 34 on the back surface 32 of the panel14 magnetically couples with the core 36 to thereby secure the panel 14in place over the window 16. As before, at least one of the core 36 andthe mounting material 34 should comprise a magnetic material. In oneembodiment, both the core 36 and the mounting material 34 are formedfrom a magnetic material. In another embodiment, one of the mountingmaterial 34 and the core 36 is a magnetic material while the other is aferromagnetic material. As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible material 22 maycompletely surround the core 36.

The flexible material 22 may engage the mounting material 34 to therebyform a substantially airtight and light tight seal around the window 16.However, it will be appreciated that the seal formed between themounting material 34 and the flexible material 22 need not be 100%efficient to fall within the scope of the present invention. Indeed, itis unnecessary for the seal between the flexible material 22 and themounting material 34 to be completely airtight or light tight toaccomplish the objectives of the present invention.

The frame 26 of the panel 14 may be even with a surface 42 of the wall12 and the frame 18. As mentioned, the insulating material 40 disposedbetween the front surface 38 and the back surface 32 of the panel 14 isoperable to impede the passage of thermal energy between the interior ofthe room 10 and the outside air.

Further, it will be appreciated that in another embodiment of thepresent invention, the panel 14 may be separated into two or moreindividual panels. These two or more individual panels may beindividually attached to the wall 12 at different locations. These twoor more individual panels may be magnetically coupled together alongcommon edges, to thereby form a combined panel for placement over thewindow 16.

It should be noted that the term “magnetic material” and “ferromagneticmaterial” as used herein, are intended to have their broadest meaning asunderstood by one having ordinary skill in the art. Thus, as usedherein, the term “magnetic material” may mean any material having theproperties of a magnet, e.g., a material that is able to exert anattractive or repulsive magnetic force on other materials, such asferromagnetic materials. As used herein, the term “ferromagneticmaterial” may mean any material that has a large positive magneticsusceptibility, that is, a material which is attracted to a magnet.

It will be further noted that the teachings of the present disclosuremay be used to provide a covering for a window, regardless of where thewindow is located. For example, the present disclosure may be utilizedwith windows located in any structure, including walls and doors.

Those having ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate theadvantages provide by the features of the present invention. Forexample, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a windowcovering that is extremely effective at blocking light and thermalenergy when compared to the previously available window coverings. Awindow covering pursuant to the present invention may take the form of alight weight panel which may be easily stored when not in use as adecorative piece mounted on a wall. Another beneficial feature of thepresent invention is to provide such a window covering with an insultingcore.

It is another feature of the present invention to utilize magneticforces to secure a window covering over the window and to a wall. Inthis manner, unsightly hardware is not required. Further, when not inuse, the window covering of the present invention does not impedeincoming light or the view out of the window.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the presentinvention are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosurerequires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the followingclaims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description by thisreference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodimentof the present invention.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may bedevised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intendedto cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the presentinvention has been shown in the drawings and described above withparticularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to,variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner ofoperation, assembly and use may be made without departing from theprinciples and concepts set forth herein.

1. A device for covering a window, said device comprising: a panel, thepanel comprising at least one of a magnetic material and a ferromagneticmaterial; and wherein the panel is secured in place over the window viaa magnetic force.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the panel comprisesa first surface and a second surface, wherein an insulating material isdisposed between the first surface and the second surface of the panel.3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible material,wherein the flexible material is mountable along a perimeter of thewindow such that the panel, when mounted over the window, engages theflexible material.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the flexiblematerial is weatherstripping.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein theflexible material comprises at least one of a magnetic material and aferromagnetic material.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising awindow screen, the window screen comprising at least one of a magneticmaterial and a ferromagnetic material, wherein the window screen ismountable over the window via a magnetic force.
 7. The device of claim6, wherein the window screen is mountable to the panel via a magneticforce.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the panel comprises adecorative frame.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the panel comprisesa handle.
 10. A device for covering a window, said device comprising: atleast one panel; a hanging device, said hanging device adapted andconfigured to be mounted to a wall; and wherein said at least one panelis selectively mountable over the window or to the wall using thehanging device.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least onepanel comprises at least one of a magnetic material and a ferromagneticmaterial such that the at least one panel is secured over the window viaa magnetic force.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least onepanel comprises at least one of a magnetic material and a ferromagneticmaterial such that the at least one panel is secured to the hangingdevice via a magnetic force.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the atleast one panel comprises a first surface and a second surface, andwherein an insulating material is disposed between the first surface andthe second surface of the at least one panel
 14. The device of claim 10,wherein the at least one panel comprises a picture.
 15. The device ofclaim 14, wherein the at least one panel comprises a picture frame. 16.The device of claim 10, further comprising a flexible material, whereinthe flexible material is mountable along a perimeter of the window suchthat the at least one panel, when mounted over the window, engages theflexible material.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the flexiblematerial comprises at least one of a magnetic material and aferromagnetic material.
 18. The device of claim 10, wherein the hangingdevice is mountable inside of the wall.
 19. The device of claim 10,wherein the at least one panel comprises a first panel and a secondpanel, wherein the first panel and the second panel have a firstconfiguration and a second configuration with respect to each other, thefirst and second panels being coupled together in the firstconfiguration and the first and second panels being separate in thesecond configuration.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the firstpanel and the second panel are coupled together via a magnetic force.21. A device for covering a window, said device comprising: a panel, thepanel comprising at least one of a magnetic material and a ferromagneticmaterial, the panel having a first surface and a second surface; apicture or other decorative design disposed on the first surface of thepanel; an insulating material disposed between the first surface and thesecond surface of the panel; a flexible material, wherein the flexiblematerial is mountable along a perimeter of the window such that thepanel, when mounted over the window, engages the flexible material tothereby create a seal; the flexible material comprising at least one ofa magnetic material and a ferromagnetic material; a hanging device, saidhanging device adapted and configured to be mounted to a wall, thehanging device comprising at least one of a magnetic material and aferromagnetic material; and wherein the panel is selectively mountableover the window or to the wall via a magnetic force.